Darling Girls,
Please know that you are lovely. You are strong and clever, smart and funny. You deserve nothing less than respect and honor. “Locker room talk” is an assault to your dignity and to the dignity of all women.
Never let a guy speak to you or about you in a demeaning way, and stay far far away from any boy who tries to dismiss vile and sleazy talk about women as just “a guy thing.” Such a boy might be a guy, but he isn’t a real man.
“Locker room talk” as some are calling it, is not okay. It demeans women, and is often predatory in nature. Anything less than the strongest possible condemnation of sexual assault and objectification of women is unacceptable. No caveats. No shifting blame or focus. No tolerance.
I hope and pray that you know you deserve much better than this kind of crass talk – that what a guy might say about how you look defines him and not you. I hope your father and I have taught you this. I hope you know that you are so much more than some cad’s opinion of your appearance.
But there are girls who don’t know. They will see the ridiculous memes and hear the careless dismissals of “locker room talk,” and they will think it’s okay. They will think that they have to accept it or worse that they deserve it. They don’t know that they are worthy of more, so it won’t occur to them to stand up against the sleazy remarks and the inappropriate advances and touches.
My darling girls, stand up for them. Speak up for them. Every chance you get, shut down the objectification.
And what’s more, build up other girls – girls who haven’t had parents and grandparents building them up their whole lives.
Speak up for them. If you hear something say something. Be the voice for all the girls who don’t feel like they have one.
Be someone who helps other young women to find their voice. Give compliments. Offer encouragement. Seek to empower. Don’t compare. Don’t put down. Always raise up.
I don’t believe for a minute that every man participates in this sort of disgusting “guy talk,” but apparently, there really are plenty who do and plenty more people who will try to dismiss it.
This is why women have to build each other up. Be women who do that. By word and example show other young women that all of you deserve to be treated with respect.
Sweet girls, please know that, while there are far too many people out there who aren’t doing the right thing, there are still many, many more who are. The world really is full of decent people. Look for them and help others become them.
Don’t be afraid. Don’t the discouraged. But do be vigilant. Be a voice. And be kind.
My love,
Mama
Photo Credit: David Syzdek
More by Laura Catherine Hanby Hudgens:
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